Is there a shortage of mental health professionals in Wisconsin?
In the wake of COVID-19, mental health providers have said the demand for mental health services exceeds the supply of professionals in Wisconsin. The shortage has increased wait times for patients and left general practice doctors to fill in the coverage gaps.
This trend predates the pandemic. According to data from 2019, 52 of the state’s 72 counties were designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas, or HPSAs, for mental health. To meet the federal HPSA requirements, an area’s population must have a psychiatrist-individual ratio of 20,000: 1 or higher and lack access to professionals in neighboring areas.
In 2019, Wisconsin's average patient-to-psychiatrist ratio was 490:1, while the nation’s top state ratio was 290:1.
As a result of the pandemic, the Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health predicts there will be a sharp increase in the number of providers needed in coming years.